With its new Xbox version, Microsoft aims at being the best flight sim on consoles
Representation pic
It’s been a year since the release of Microsoft Flight Simulator for PC. In my review of the game in 2020, I was enamoured by its various features like live simulated weather conditions that used real weather data to get the on-ground conditions, it’s crazy collection of aircraft and the attention to detail when it came to simulating those aeroplanes and their controls.
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I still had a few issues with the game. The first was it was very complicated to play with a keyboard and mouse setup. If someone was thinking of taking on the simulator, I had recommended getting a controller. The second was that it was too real all the time; it did not give the player a chance to just enjoy a leisurely flight or just the beautiful weather or even the landmasses it was simulating. The 2021 update has fixed one of those issues and the second one was fixed coincidentally as it was released on Xbox Series S and X, which anyway came with a controller.
To address the hardcore simulation issue, Microsoft has introduced a section called Discovery flights. It is the perfect way to enjoy the game without stressing about the flight controls. It has a basic control scheme and all you have to do is fly around one of the very detailed maps and check out points of interest. The detailed mapped areas are around the pyramids of Giza, New York City, Rio De Janeiro, Mount Everest and a few more locations. While this mode is built to be easy, the game is still very much a simulation. Get too close to things or move the wrong way, and your plane can still come crashing down. In the normal modes, there is also an assistant that can do pretty much everything that needs to be done so you can just enjoy flying from one destination to the other.
The game is also surprisingly easy to play with the Xbox controller. I felt the developers had given a lot of thought to how the game would be used. It was much easier to pick up than the option of playing this on a keyboard and mouse.
Simulator also looks amazing, for a game that forced high-end computers to struggle, and runs surprisingly well on the Xbox Series X. As for the whole seriousness of the simulator where players can train on the game, it still holds with the update. This means that an Xbox Series X or S are a great investment, over a high-end PC if you want to train as a pilot. You would have to still invest in the requisite gear for professional training, but a major chunk of hardware cost is taken care of by the relatively low-cost console… if you can find one.
The new flight sim is still the best in the series in terms of both gameplay and content. So, it is a no brainer for fans and would-be professionals, especially if you own or plan to buy the latest Xbox. The new features make it more newbie-friendly which means it is a lot of fun to play even if you don’t want to learn how to fly a real plane. The best part, however, is that this game is free as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. You can still buy it if you want to own it outright, it will cost Rs 3,999. If you want it as part of Game Pass, an entire year of Ultimate costs Rs 8,399. Game Pass will also let you play hundreds of games for free on both your PC and console.
Microsoft Flight simulator Xbox
Rating: 5/5
Developer: Asobo Studio
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Platform: Xbox Series X/S
Price: Rs 3,999
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